Pimpri-Chinchwad Floods: Heavy Rains and Dam Water Release Trigger Evacuations and Disruptions
The Pimpri-Chinchwad region is grappling with severe flood-like conditions due to relentless heavy rains combined with large-scale water discharge from upstream dams. The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has declared a high alert and activated its disaster management protocols to mitigate the impact.
Current Flood Situation
Heavy rains within the catchment areas of the Mulshi and Pavana dams have led to a significant increase in water release. The combined discharge from the two dams has surged to around 50,000 cusecs, causing rivers like the Mula, Pavana, and Indrayani to swell and flood adjacent low-lying localities. This has raised the water levels dangerously high in several Pimpri-Chinchwad neighborhoods.
In response, PCMC has evacuated approximately 950 residents from vulnerable and flood-prone areas to safer spaces such as municipal schools and community halls. Evacuations continue in neighborhoods including Bhatanagar, Kiwale, Kesavnagar, Jadhav Ghat, Kalewadi, Pimple Nilakh, Bopkhel, Sanjay Gandhi Nagar, and Pimple Gurav. These relocations are supported with provisions for food, drinking water, healthcare, and power to ensure the well-being of displaced residents.
Civic Response and Precautionary Measures
The local administration has deployed fire department teams, search-and-rescue squads, ambulances, and emergency vehicles across affected zones. Flood-prone areas are continuously monitored by Quick Response Teams equipped with pumps, boats, and life jackets to enable swift rescue operations if needed. Eight zonal help centers are operational 24×7, coordinating efforts with disaster management cells, police, and the irrigation department.
Authorities are actively addressing waterlogging and drainage issues throughout the city, aiming to relieve blocked stormwater lines caused by heavy rainfall and encroachments. Citizens are being regularly updated on safety measures and flood warnings through social media, All India Radio, and FM broadcasts.
Impact and Challenges
The flooding has severely disrupted normal life, with water entering homes and roads submerged in many areas. Substantial water discharge, combined with rains, has overwhelmed drainage infrastructure, exacerbated by industrial and plastic waste choking stormwater pipelines. Problems are particularly acute near riverbanks and in historically flood-prone zones.
Public transport services are affected, and residents are advised to avoid non-essential travel especially in low-lying and riverside locations. While temporary shelters are in place, some residents have been reluctant to relocate, prompting authorities to continuously engage with communities to ensure their safety.
Outlook
Rainfall is expected to continue over the next day or two, sustaining the high water levels in rivers and reservoirs. The civic administration remains on high alert, prepared to escalate relief and rescue efforts if conditions worsen. Residents in flood-affected zones are urged to remain vigilant, keep emergency contacts handy, and comply with evacuation advisories promptly to avoid risk to life and property.
This recent update highlights the seriousness of the flooding in Pimpri-Chinchwad as part of the broader monsoon impact on Maharashtra’s urban centers, reflecting coordinated emergency responses and ongoing challenges faced by residents and authorities alike
About the Author
